J u L i A n

Puppy power!

The yawning halls echoed his footsteps. The cold stone seemed to weigh down on him, despite the emptiness around him. He moved slowly, weaving his way across the ebony lacquered floor. He stilled as two figures spilled from a nearby corridor. They grappled as Julian watched on with raised eyebrows. He recognised the male of the fight to be the failure. The female must be new. Wonderful powers of deduction Julian, he berated himself.

He started laughing as Dimitri went flying into the wall with a force that shook the candelabras above, She, the thrower of Dimitri cheered to herself. "Puppy power!"

Julian raised an eyebrow. "Quoting Scooby Doo, you're my kind of girl."

Carter turned to him, exhilaration still shining on her face. "Someone else who watches T.V!" She clapped her hands together, sarcastic.

"Julian Namir," he greeted, extending a tanned hand.

She cautiously took it. "Carter Blake." Her brow crinkled, "Namir...Callum..."

"Ahh...so you know my brother..."Julian grinned.

"Don't worry. I won't hold it against you." Carter replied, a smile tingeing her lips.

Julians smile grew. "He is a bit of a heartless bastard."

"I noticed." Carter's expression darkened slightly. "He's the bastard who knocked me out so they could bring me here."

"Ouch. What can I say...people in our family are reared to be assassins."

"Sounds like a safe home environment." Carter remarked.

"Yeah..."They stood and looked at each other. "How long have you been here?"

"A day, I think. I've been unconscious. Then when I woke up this Saben guy brought me this uniform." She motioned to the white karate ensemble before continuing. "And directed me this way." Breath. "Then ran into him." She gave a disgusted look to the Dimitri heap.

"Ah yes. You'll be glad to know that we get a different uniform for academic lessons."

"We have to do lessons? I was hoping that now I'd been forced into the assassin career I was free from the High school system..."

Julian gave a sympathetic nod. "If it's any consolation they aren't necessarily what you'd call an ordinary lessons. Not the kind you'd find in high school anyway."

"No more Trig..." Carter said, almost dreamily.

Julian looked slightly apologetic. "We have to do maths. I was talking about Potions, Poisons and Plants, magical protections, Tactics and Strategy..."

"Wow." Was her unenthusiastic reply. "I can tell I'm just going to love that."

"Never mind." Julian patted her on the shoulder in companion fashion. "We'll pull you through."

Dimitri groaned, interrupting their bonding. Julian shot him a contemptuous look. He tugged on Carter's shoulder. "This way to swords. That's Sabens' class..."

"Swords..."Carter almost cooed.

Julian's laughter removed the forgotten void above before fading.

Tamashii: :P

Twistedangel06: thank you.

AN: interlude chapter thingy…